Page:James Hudson Maurer - The Far East (1912).pdf/8

 They prefer living for them and let the dying for their principles to others.

England was a long way off and a long time would elapse before the arrival of British working men (soldiers) who harbor the insane idea that it is honorable to fight and die for business men's principles.

And as the traders seldom die for their own principles, there was nothing left for them to do but surrender to Lin.

And with a rapidity that was almost haste, 20,000 chests containing each about 140 pounds of opium, were handed over to Commissioner Lin, who promptly destroyed it by placing it in trenches, then mixed it with salt and lime and finally emptied it into the sea.

After this very considerable triumph, Lin wrote a letter to Queen Victoria begging her to help suppress the opium traffic, and in time to abolish it forever, pointing out to her the demoralizing effect that the drug had on its consumers. If this letter was ever delivered to the Queen, she neglected to reply.

Lin knew what China needed and was striving to save her, but he did not seem to know that the British aristocracy needed money and that one of the many ways they had of getting it was by exploiting the toilers of India, and if the product of India could not be disposed of, then there would be less money, hence less idleness, fewer luxuries, mansions, castles, gowns, jewels, horses, servants, pleasure jaunts, etc., for the pampered, blue blooded nobility.

This one very important point Lin seems to have overlooked.

To the Chinese official mind China was the greatest of nations, and had a right to manage her affairs to suit herself.

The Christian rulers never disputed China's right to rule her own country, only she must be taught to manage her affairs so as not to jeopardize the vested interests of the Christian nobility.

So when China strove to destroy the opium trade, which meant an annual revenue of millions to the British-India government and many millions more to the Christian merchants, China right there pricked England on her most vital spot.

To sooth her wounded dignity, England sent to